Justice Served in Crestmont and Willow Grove

Abington Township Ward 5 Commissioner Wayne Luker overcame a stiff, well-funded opponent and won his battle for re-election in Tuesday's Democrat primary.  Abington Patch has the full story.

Wayne Luker and Greg Holt
photo courtesy Abington Patch

Beyond the eminent domain issue I mentioned in my prior post, Luker had also bucked his own party by voting against a partisan attempt by Abington Democrat Commissioners to enact an anti-discrimination ordinance.  Luker's vote did not sit well with one very emotional fellow commisioner and several party leaders.

Luker's opponent, Donna Brewer, at the forefront of the anti-discrimination ordinance, tried to use Luker's opposition to motivate the electorate in a final-weekend attack video produced and distributed on DVD.  Tuesday, voters showed Brewer what they thought of her attacks; Luker won handily.

This is good news for my fellow patriots.  An independent voice in the Democrat party exists and voters in this very "blue" ward there like that. 

Congratulations Commissioner Luker!

Abington Democrats vs Wayne Luker

Thursday night, the Abington Township Commissioners ended an over two year effort to seize a commercial property located on Easton Road in Roslyn via a hostile government takeover, better known as eminent domain. 

I've written about this saga twice before, here and here.

While it is a clear victory for the Patane family who owns the location, this story is far from over.

Nowhere on the Democratic side of the ticket in Abington for this Tuesday's primary, except for cross-filed contests like school board, is there a single competitive race at any level, with one very clear exception.

Twenty year incumbent Ward 5 (Crestmont/Willow Grove) Democratic Commissioner, Wayne Luker, is facing his first challenge in memory.  Luker is being challenged not because he's doing a bad job.  In fact, while I disagree with some of his votes, Luker is one of the few Democrats in Abington I admire.

Luker's challenge can be summed up in one shining moment, when he was the lone Democrat to vote against the hostile takeover of the Patane (not Abington) property.

The Abington Democrats' website doesn't mention the candidates in the Ward 5 race.  I won't split hairs, it is typical for political parties to stay out of contested races on this level because no party endorsement exists.  But failing to mention either candidate keeps voters in the dark about the contest, in an age where Democrats love to cry out for transparency.

Either Montgomery County Commissioner Candidate and current State Representative Josh Shapiro (D), Montgomery County Party Chair Marcel Groen, and Abington Democrat leadership are actively targeting someone for voting against the machine, or lack the persuasive power and will to call off this fight.  Sad.

But Commissioner Luker can stand proud.  Even if the machine wins, he's the better Patriot for it.

Protesting Against Hostile Government Takeover in Abington

Page13news was there too.

I've written here before about the hostile government takeover of a commercial property in Abington to, in part, honor the campaign promise of Abington Democrat Commissioner Lori Schreiber who is running for re-election. It was Schreiber who promised four years ago to do something about the vacant property at 1180 Easton Road in the Roslyn section of Abington.


About 40 protesters, led by libertarian and former Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate, Ken Krawchuk, gathered at the property subject to the hostile takeover. Then, one by one, the group walked in the rain to each of the homes of Abington Commissioners, both republican and democratic, who supported the move.


From the sidewalk they loudly proclaimed their objections to the politicians and let passers-by know why they were gathering. Some of the conflicts got testy as protesters and two Schreiber supporters argued as they marched. No violence, just heated honest disagreement.

Schreiber's November opponent, Lou Guerra, was not in attendance.

Page13news will have further information about the status of the current court fight between the owners of the property and the Abington township when they happen.

Eminent Domain and Pork Spending

Four years ago, Abington Township Commissioner Lori Schreiber (D) ran on the promise to end blithe in her neighborhood of Roslyn. She blamed her opponent for, among other things, failing to get the owner of a commercial property at 1180 Easton Road (pictured) to either rent or sell the location after it sat vacant for several years.

Now, after failing to do the same during her first term, Commissioner Schreiber has a brilliant idea; hostile government takeover.

Eminent domain – when a governmental body decides to forcefully take property from a private citizen for the “best interests of the community”.

Both Democrats and Republicans in Abington voted for the hostile takeover of the property so it can be used to relocate, expand, and improve the current Roslyn library. Individuals from both parties voted against it as well. One Democrat was wise (dare I say brave) enough to see the danger in this move.

The measure passed by one vote but doesn’t guarantee a quick resolution since the owners can appeal. Can you envision the price tag elevating already? Grant money won’t cover legal bills.

Those in favor of this action justify the move because it won’t increase taxes. Grant money will be used to fund the project. But this creates problem number two.

When the country’s economy (actually a global problem) is tanking, these pork projects should be shelved. Especially when its sole purpose is not to beautify the neighborhood as Commissioner Schreiber would like you to believe, but rather to guarantee this politician gets re-elected.

Republicans on the Abington Board who voted in favor of this move, failed to follow the example shown in Washington. The pork spending Washington added to the “stimulus” bill on one end, leads to Democrats being re-elected here, on the other end.

My family enjoys the Roslyn library and would visit the beautiful new facility if it ever becomes a reality, but only if private investment made it happen.

This library however, is simply being used as an excuse for the government to justify a takeover and for one specific politician to benefit.